25 June 2010

Monkey Mountain

by Justin D’Ath

Penguin Australia. Junior, Australian, Paperback rrp $14.95

Monkey Mountain is the latest release in the Extreme Adventures series. I’ve read all the books and I have to admit up front, I’m a fan. Extreme Adventures books are packed full of action. Every chapter ending is a nail-biting cliff-hanger and even reluctant readers won’t want to stop there. Monkey Mountain is no exception to the Extreme Adventure rule.

Sam Fox is on a school excursion to Borneo to visit a dormant volcano. Except the volcano decides to spit ash – with Sam caught on a ledge inside the crater while attempting to rescue a friend’s fallen backpack. With the help of his teacher, Mr Griffin, Sam scrambles to safety but his problems aren’t over. Falling molten rock, lava flows, aggressive monkeys, sharks and crocodiles. Did I mention the pirates? The pace is nerve-wracking and frantic but the story never sounds contrived or overdone.